It keeps growing: Nintendo announces larger-screened DSiXL

Nintendo has unveiled yet another iteration on its DS handheld: the DSiLL. The …

Though the DSi was just released earlier this year, Nintendo has already announced the next iteration of the wildly popular handheld: the DSiXL (also known as the DSiLL in Japan). Revealed at a press event in Tokyo, the new DS will feature larger screens than its predecessor but few other improvements.

The larger screens will clock in at 4.2 inches, a solid inch larger than the DSi. However, the DSiXL will feature the same number of pixels as the DSi. Obviously the larger screens will result in a larger size overall for the handheld, but the DSiXL will also feature slightly better battery life then the DSi, with 13-17 hours available on the lowest brightness setting. Kotaku has a spec comparison of the differences between the DSiXL, DSi, and DS Lite.

The new handheld is slated for a November 21 release date in Japan, and will retail for 20,000 yen (or roughly US$220). Nintendo also confirmed to VG247 that the DSiXL will launch in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. And while a price wasn't set, it will sell for more then the DSi. There's currently no word on a North American release date or price.

It seems that Nintendo is courting an older audience with this latest iteration on the DS, as evidenced by the DSiWare games that will come pre-installed in the Japanese version. They include two different Brain Training games and and DS Easy Dictionary. The DSiXL will be available in three colors in that region: Dark Brown, Red Wine, and Natural White.

Update: Nintendo has confirmed to Joystiq that the new DS will also be coming to North America in Q1 2010. Additionally, the handheld will only be known as the DSiLL in Japan; in other regions it will be called the DSiXL. The post has been updated accordingly.